New High Times Article - harvest earlier?

indic4 · Jan 16, 2011

In the article "Resin Factory", HT travels to a huge grow op where the owner talks about harvesting when the trichs are just starting to turn milky (most of them are clear) after reading notes from a study by Dr. Paul G. Mahlberg . Here is a quote from the HT article:

"Dr. Paul G. Mahlberg who found that THC in the resin head is at it's peak when it's still clear - not opaque and certainly not amber. Dr. Mahlberg stuck a tiny syringe into the bulbous head of the trichome and extracted it's contents, then analyzed it for THC. The result: Without a doubt, THC is at it's highest before the trichome turns opaque."

This goes against what just about EVERYONE (including "The Bible") says about harvesting. What do you guys think?

Glodenglow1 · Jan 16, 2011

My caregiver, as well as the PhD chemist we have our herb tested by say the same thing.

Amber trichomes are apparently rotten or already degraded THC

I just havent posted the info to get a consensus.

reefchief · Jan 16, 2011

Very very interesting! I'll be watching this closely.

Hash Bean · Jan 16, 2011

DirtyApe · Jan 16, 2011

If I werent stoned I'd try to find something to refute this but....Someone very smart will post something to the contrary Im sure.

I dunno. Im curious though.

washmo · Jan 16, 2011

YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS RIGHT?!?!?!?!?!

HARVEST HAPPENS SOONER!!!

To celebrate, I will do the following in this order:

StinkBomb · Jan 16, 2011

I was under the assumption that this was common knowledge. That is why early harvests are relatively trippy, energetic highs, Because of the high THC content. As the trichomes mature, the cannibinoid ratios change as the THC degrades. Thus the different highs produced from early, mid, and late harvest.

Psilocin420 · Jan 16, 2011

StinkBomb said:

I was under the assumption that this was common knowledge. That is why early harvests are relatively trippy, energetic highs, Because of the high THC content. As the trichomes mature, the cannibinoid ratios change as the THC degrades. Thus the different highs produced from early, mid, and late harvest.
Click to expand...

mrcameleon · Jan 16, 2011

I totally agree with the Dr.
Mostly clear with just a bit of milky in the trichs has been the strongest potency I've experienced by far. Surprised to see an article actually validate that.

Nissty · Jan 16, 2011

I totally agree, I try and harvest at 50%clear 50% milky. I always harvest right away if I see an amber trich. The weed just really is better at this point in the plants development. I'm sure tons of ppl would argue this though.

Olesmoky · Jan 16, 2011

StinkBomb said:

I was under the assumption that this was common knowledge. That is why early harvests are relatively trippy, energetic highs, Because of the high THC content. As the trichomes mature, the cannibinoid ratios change as the THC degrades. Thus the different highs produced from early, mid, and late harvest.
Click to expand...

This is about right on I'd guess.

.HiGhGuY. · Jan 16, 2011

This is nothing new. Every grower should know already that amber trichs will result in more of a stony couch lock, and the clear ones more of a cerebral head high.

But the time you harvest won't have as much of an effect as the strain type itself... (indica, sativa, ind/sat domminent hybrid)

Glodenglow1 · Jan 16, 2011

I dont think the debate is wether or not amber trich's casue more of a couchlock feeling, that is common knowledge.

Can any of you speak to the chemistry going on? Seems like since some of you know so much, you could possibly enlighten us with what is actually going on.

The part that I found interesting is that supposedly the ambers are more of a degraded THC. IS this degradation a slow morph into other type of cannabinoids? Or is it a degradation of THC??

StinkBomb · Jan 16, 2011

Glodenglow1 said:

I dont think the debate is wether or not amber trich's casue more of a couchlock feeling, that is common knowledge.

Can any of you speak to the chemistry going on? Seems like since some of you know so much, you could possibly enlighten us with what is actually going on.

The part that I found interesting is that supposedly the ambers are more of a degraded THC. IS this degradation a slow morph into other type of cannabinoids? Or is it a degradation of THC??
Click to expand...

I'll see if I can find you a link that goes into detail with regards to the chemistry involved. If not, I'll try my best to explain. There are specific answers to your questions. Give me a minute. Maybe someone else will shoot you a link or explain it in the meantime.

Glodenglow1 · Jan 16, 2011

Thanks Stinkbomb! I've been curious about this for a long time.

I'll talk with the PhD chemist that analyzes my herb and get his thoughts

indic4 · Jan 16, 2011

Great stuff everyone, this is what GC is all about!

FenceWalker · Jan 16, 2011

Early Floral Stage

Floral clusters begin to form as calyx production increases and internode length decreases. Tri-leaflet leaves are the predominant type and usually appear along the secondary floral stems within the individual clusters. Many pairs of calyxes appear along each secondary floral axis and each pair is subtended by a tri-leaflet leaf. Older pairs of calyxes visible along the primary floral axis during the premature stage now begin to swell, the pistils darken as they lose fertility, and some resin secretion is observed in trichomes along the veins of the calyx. The newly produced calyxes show few if any capitate-stalked trichomes. As a result of low resin production, only a slight terpene aroma and psychoactivity are detectable. The floral clusters are not ready for harvest at this point. Total cannabinoid production has increased markedly over the premature stage but THC levels (still less than 3%) are not high enough to produce more than a subtle effect.

Peak Floral Stage

Elongation growth of the main floral stem ceases at this stage, and floral clusters gain most of their size through the addition of more calyxes along the secondary stems until they cover the primary stem tips in an overlapping spiral. Small reduced mono-leaflet and tri-leaflet leaves subtend each pair of calyxes emerging from secondary stems within the floral clusters. These subtending leaves are correctly referred to as bracts. Outer leaves begin to wilt and turn yellow as the pistillate plant reaches its reproductive peak. In the primordial calyxes the pistils have turned brown; however, all but the oldest of the flowers are fertile and the floral clusters are white with many pairs of ripe pistils. Resin secretion is quite advanced in some of the older infertile calyxes, and the young pistillate calyxes are rapidly producing capitate-stalked glandular trichomes to protect the precious unfertilized ovule. Under wild conditions the pistillate plant would be starting to form seeds and the cycle would be drawing to a close. When Cannabis is grown for sinsemilla floral production, the cycle is interrupted. Pistillate plants remain unfertilized and begin to produce capitate -stalked trichomes and accumulate resins in a last effort to remain viable. Since capitate-stalked trichomes now predominate, resin and THC production increase. The elevated resin heads appear clear, since fresh resin is still being secreted, often being produced in the cellular head of the trichome. At this time THC acid production is at a peak and CBD acid levels remain stable as the molecules are rapidly converted to THC acids, THC acid synthesis has not been active long enough for a high level of CBN acid to build up from the degradation of THC acid by light and heat. Terpene production is also nearing a peak and the floral clusters are beautifully aromatic. Many cultivators prefer to pick some of their strains during this stage in order to produce marijuana with a clear, cerebral, psychoactive effect. It is believed that, in peak floral clusters, the low levels of CBD and CBN allow the high level of THC to act without their sedative effects. Also, little polymerization of resins has occurred, so aromas and tastes are often less resinous and tar like than at later stages. Many strains, if they are harvested in the peak floral stage, lack the completely developed aroma, taste and psychoactive level that appear after curing. Cultivators wait longer for the resins to mature if a different taste and psychoactive effect is desired.

This is the point of optimum harvest for some strains, since most additional calyx growth has ceased. However, a subsequent flush of new calyx growth may occur and the plant continue ripening into the late floral stage.

Late Floral Stage

By this stage plants are well past the main reproductive phase and their health has begun to decline. Many of the larger leaves have dropped off, and some of the small inner leaves begin to change color. Autumn colors (purple, orange, yellow, etc.) begin to appear in the older leaves and calyxes at this time; many of the pistils turn brown and begin to fall off. Only the last terminal pistils are still fertile and swollen calyxes predominate. Heavy layers of protec tive resin heads cover the calyxes and associated leaves. Production of additional capitate-stalked glandular trichomes is rare, although some existing trichomes may still be elongating and secreting resins. As the previously secreted resins mature, they change color. The polymerization of small terpene molecules (which make up most of the resin) produces long chains and a more viscous and darker-colored resin. The ripening and darkening of resins follows the peak of psychoactive cannabinoid synthesis and the transparent amber color of mature resin is usually indicative of high THC content. Many cultivators agree that transparent amber resins are a sign of high-quality drug Cannabis and many of the finest strains exhibit this characteristic. Particularly potent Cannabis from California, Hawaii, Thailand, Mexico, and Colombia is often encrusted with transparent amber colored instead of clear resin heads. This is also characteristic of Cannabis from other equatorial, subtropical and temperate zones where the growing season is long enough to accommodate long term resin production and maturation. Many areas of North America and Europe have too short a season to fully mature resins unless a greenhouse is used. Specially acclimatized strains are another possibility. They develop rapidly and begin maturing in time to ripen amber resins while the weather is still warm and dry.

The weight yield of floral clusters is usually highest at this point, but strains may begin to grow an excess of leaves in late-stage clusters to catch additional energy from the rapidly diminishing autumn sun. Total resin accumulation is highest at this stage, but the period of maximum resin production has passed. If climatic conditions are harsh, resins and cannabinoids will begin to decompose. As a result, resin yield may appear high even if many of the resin heads are missing or have begun to deteriorate and the overall psychoactivity of the resin has dropped. THC decomposes to CBN in the hot sun and will not remain intact or be replaced after the metabolic processes of the plant have ceased. Since cannabinoids are so sensitive to decomposition by sunlight, the higher psychoactivity of amber resins may be a secondary effect. It may be that the THC is better protected from the sun by amber or opaque resins than by clear resins. Some late maturing strains develop opaque, white resin heads as a result of terpene polymerization and THC decomposition. Opaque resin heads are usually a sign that the floral clusters are over-mature.

Late floral clusters exhibit the full potential of resin production, aromatic principles, and psychoactive effect. Complex mixtures of many mon oterpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons along with alcohols, ethers, esters, and ketones determine the aroma and flavor of mature Cannabis. The levels of the basic terpenes and their polymerized by-products fluctuate as the resin ripens. The aromas of fresh floral clusters are usually preserved after drying, as by the late floral stage, a high proportion of ripe resins are present on the mature calyxes of the fresh plant. Cannabinoid production favors high THC acid and rising CBN acid content at this stage, since most active biosynthesis has ceased and more THC acid is being broken down into CBN acid than is being produced from CBD acid. CBD acid may accumulate because not enough energy is available to complete its conversion to THC acid. The THC-to-CBD ratio in the harvested floral clusters certainly begins to drop as biosynthesis slows, because THC acid levels decrease as it decom poses, and at the same time CBD acid levels remain or rise intact since CBD does not decompose as rapidly as THC acid. This tends to produce marijuana characterized by more somatic and sedative effects. Some cultivators prefer this to the more cerebral and clear psychoactivity of the peak floral stage.
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Marijuana Botany

There is a pretty good guide, used for years by a lot of growers. As Clarke points out, it depends on the strain and the type of high you are looking for so taking a few test buds along the way will tell you when you should harvest the strain you are growing for the type of high you are looking for.

daproduceboy · Jan 17, 2011

excellent reply! exactly what I was looking for. I'm gonna smoke a bowl in honor of the awesomness of this response and the supremeness of GC!

indic4 · Jan 17, 2011

Thanks Fencewalker, great find.

whitekush · Jan 20, 2011

this contradicts everything in the stickies

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